The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-07
From Sheridan.

On Wednesday last, Mr. Pooler, the hard
ware dealer, came near having two acct
dents at once of the most serious conse
quences; one was burning himself to death
or losing his eyes, and the other OF no'I
only destroying his own store, but the 9th
ers in the entire row, from the hotel on the
north to Weston's drug store on the south |
and the restaurant beyond, with the proba
bilities of further extension of the fire iI
the village. Mr., Pooler has small fur
mace, such as all timers use for heating
their soldering irons; but instead of char
coal for fuel, such as others use, he EN-
ploys gasoline, which everybody knows !;
a very dangerous sort Of burning fluid Thi
volatile mixture was poured In reservoi
about four feet from the furnace, and some
what higher, and near the wall, which Il
lined with pine boards. The fire suddenly
appearing to 60 out for want of oil, ht
turned off the supply pipe and poured par
of gallon measure into the reservoir; bu
as the holder did not fill he thought while
at II he might fill it full. He did so, ant
before he was aware 1t ran over and fol
lowed the conducting pipe to the furnace
ignitlng like gunpowder, flashing back q
the holder, when fierce blaze ran up thu
ceiling and while he was hunting for tn !
stopper TO extinguish the flame In the res
ervoir, the fluid in the can caught fire. II 4
essayed TO blow this out, when tremenI
dous flash struck him In the face, burnlnS
him severely. By this time he was not .onlS
excited but angry, and as soon as he could
see assaulted the blazing partition and
burning can and reservoir with such copiI
Gus pals of water that he eXtinguished tn |
fire. As Sheridan has no fire apparatuI
other than common pals and water only III
cisterns or the artesian we'll, her chances Il
serious conflagration such as this woult
have been would be exceedingly thin.
A fearful accident occurred to Mr.. Johi
Reeser, farmer living near this town, o
the same day, whereby he is likely to los
his life. He went alone in field to di
under and sink atwo-ton bowlder. He mad
deep excavation when the stone suddenl
fell, burying him underneath, its ponder
Gus mass partly resting upon his legs an
one arm, holding him as securely as If in
wise. He remained in that condition, cal
for relief, until his voice had nearly faile
him. About two hours after the accidepI
tree peddler passing along the road hear
the faint and apparently far of cries @
some one for "help." Looking around hI
perceived no one, both the man and III
stone being out of sight of the road bt
the cry being repeated, he tied his horse
and going into the field perceived freshl
thrown up dirt, and reaching the piac|
found the unfortunate sufferer. Takin
the shovel he tug with might and mai
a half hour till exhausted Then he foun
he could not succeed without help, and al
quickly as he could he ran to the neares|
neighbors, got several men, returned AMI
worked two hours more before they coul
get Mr. Reeser out, who by this time wal
cold and helpless They gave him som
LIQUOR, had to cut off his boots on accour|
of his feet swelling, and put him to bee
DR.. Petit had been sent for, and arrivin
found both legs broken, and with DR.. Dye
set them next morning.